Intro

[Guest guest]

Hello All. I just found this group today. To tell you a bit about where I am...

I received modest saline implants in 1993 in CA. I have had no issues that I

knew of with them and have been pleased with their appearance. I did start

suffering from migraines within a year or two and had sleep difficulty on and

off. However, within the last 4 months I have started experiencing an onset of

fairly extreme symptoms including: significant fatigue, sleeplessness at night;

aches and pains; a round 50 cent piece sized flaky rash on the left side of the

collarbone; enlarged lymph node on left side of neck [ultrasound scheduled for

Monday]; enlarged lymph nodes in left groin area; hair loss; excess oil in hair

and on face; acne-like rash on upper chest; etc. I went to a primary care dr.

about 6 wks ago and she did some blood work revealing an elevated ana of 1:640.

She referred to a rhuemologist who did additional blood work which showed

elevated antiphospoid lipids [sp]. As of last Tues. she did more blood work

which is not back yet. I think she believes it is lupus.

Last night I was continuing to research lupus and came across drug-induced lupus

which made me think of anything that I could ever have taken to cause it... I

thought of the juvederm lip injection I had about 4 months ago but that didn't

seem to be it but some sites mentioned implants. I had NEVER even thought of

them!! Honestly, I don't think I even put them on the medical history for the

rhuemotologist sheet as I was so focused on the symptoms and my prior history of

miscarriages, etc. It just never came up. I realize the issue of whether any

implants cause immune issues is a touchy one and much debated. The fact is that

mine are 15 years old and I am a 38 year old mother of 6 [5 adopted] who feels

98 some days. If it is lupus or lymphoma or other, I will deal with it but if

there is any likelihood that it is the implants, I want them out or even if

there is a chance due to their age they are complicating things. No one ever

suggested at the time that they needed replaced at a certain time unless a

rupture occurred. I never thought of replacing or removal.

I am glad I found this group and the other support groups out there. Of course,

with all of the unknowns, I am scared. I lost my Mother last year to lymphoma

and lung cancer. I also am scared of the more superficial things... how I will

look with the implants out/the damage that may be there, etc. I never imagined I

would be in this position.

Trysh